rj.acrownofswords-第50部分

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ed　to　know；　even　within　the　Blue　…　infuriated　her　to　near　apoplexy。　She　not　only　snatched　back　control　of　the　Blue　network；　not　only　upbraided　Siuan　in　a　voice　that　might　have　been　heard　a　mile　off；　she　very　nearly　went　for　Siuan's　throat。　Aeldene　was　from　an　Andoran　mining　village　in　the　Mountains　of　Mist；　and　it　was　said　her　crooked　nose　came　from　fighting　with　her　fists　when　she　was　a　girl。　Aeldene's　actions　had　started　others　thinking。
　　　Egwene　returned　to　her　unsteady　chair　and　pushed　her　breakfast　tray　aside。　〃Aeldene　won't　take　it　away　from　you；　Siuan；　and　neither　will　anyone　else。〃　When　Aeldene　reclaimed　the　Blue　eyes…and…ears；　others　had　begun　thinking　that　the　Blue　should　not　have　the　Amyrlin's　as　well。　No　one　suggested　that　it　should　be　in　Egwene's　control。　The　Hall　was　to　have　it。　So　Romanda　said；　and　Lelaine。　Each　intended　to　be　the　one　in　charge；　of　course；　the　one　those　reports　came　to　first；　for　being　first　to　know　had　advantages。　Aeldene　thought　those　agents　should　be　added　to　the　Blue　network　since　Siuan　was　Blue。　At　least　Sheriam　was　content　simply　to　be　handed　all　the　reports　Siuan　received。　Which　she　usually　was。　〃They　can't　make　you　give　it　up。〃
　　　Egwene　filled　her　teacup　again；　setting　it　and　the　blue…glazed　honeypot　on　the　corner　of　the　table　nearest　Siuan；　but　the　other　woman　only　stared　at　them。　The　anger　had　gone　out　of　her。　She　slumped　on　the　stool。　〃You　never　really　think　about　strength；〃　she　said；　half　to　herself。　〃You're　aware　of　it；　whether　you're　stronger　than　somebody　else；　but　you　don't　think　about　it。　You　just　know　that　she　defers　to　you；　or　you　to　her。　There　was　no　one　stronger　than　me；　before。　No　one；　since。。。〃　Her　eyes　dropped　to　her　hands；　stirring　uneasily　on　her　lap。　〃Sometimes；　when　Romanda　is　hammering　at　me；　or　Lelaine；　it　suddenly　hits　me　like　a　gale。　They're　so　far　above　me　now；　I　should　be　holding　my　tongue　until　they　give　me　permission　to　speak。　Even　Aeldene　is；　and　she's　no　more　than　middling。〃　She　forced　her　head　upright；　mouth　tight　and　voice　bitter。　〃I　suppose　I'm　adjusting　to　reality。　That's　ingrained　in　us；　too；　driven　deep　before　you　ever　test　for　the　shawl。　But　I　don't　like　it。　I　don't！〃
　　　Egwene　picked　up　her　pen　from　beside　the　inkwell　and　the　sand　jar；　fiddling　with　it　while　she　chose　words。　〃Siuan；　you　know　how　I　feel　about　what　needs　to　be　changed。　There's　too　much　we　do　because　Aes　Sedai　have　always　done　it　that　way。　But　things　are　changing；　no　matter　who　believes　it　will　all　go　back　to　how　it　was。　I　doubt　anyone　else　was　ever　raised　Amyrlin　without　being　Aes　Sedai　first！〃　That　should　have　elicited　a　ment　on　the　White　Tower's　hidden　records　…　Siuan　often　said　there　was　nothing　that　had　not　occurred　at　least　once　in　the　Tower's　history；　though　this　did　seem　to　be　a　first　…　but　Siuan　sat　there　disheartened；　like　a　sack。　〃Siuan；　the　Aes　Sedai　way　isn't　the　only　way；　and　not　even　always　the　best。　I　intend　to　make　sure　we　follow　the　best　way；　and　whoever　can't　learn　to　change；　or　won't；　had　better　learn　to　live　with　it。〃　Leaning　across　the　table；　she　tried　to　make　her　expression　encouraging。　〃I　never　did　figure　out　how　Wise　Ones　determine　precedence；　but　it　isn't　strength　in　the　Power。　There　are　women　who　can　channel　who　defer　to　women　who　can't。　One；　Sorilea；　would　never　have　made　it　to　Accepted；　yet　even　the　strongest　jump　when　she　says　toad。〃
　　　〃Wilders；〃　Siuan　said　dismissively；　but　it　lacked　force。
　　　〃Aes　Sedai；　then。　I　wasn't　raised　Amyrlin　because　I　am　the　strongest。　The　wisest　women　are　chosen　for　the　Hall　or　to　be　ambassadors　or　advisors；　the　most　skillful　anyway；　not　those　with　the　most　strength。〃　Best　not　to　say　skillful　in　what；　though　Siuan　certainly　possessed　those　particular　skills　too。
　　　〃The　Hall？　The　Hall　might　send　me　for　tea。　They　might　have　me　sweep　out　when　they've　finished　sitting。〃
　　　Sitting　back；　Egwene　threw　down　the　pen。　She　wanted　to　shake　the　woman。　Siuan　had　kept　going　when　she　could　not　channel　at　all；　and　now　her　knees　began　to　fold？　Egwene　was　on　the　point　of　telling　her　about　Theodrin　and　Faolain　…　that　should　get　some　rise；　and　approval　…　when　she　saw　an　olive…skinned　woman　ride　past　the　open　tent　flaps　looking　lost　in　thought　beneath　the　wide　gray　hat　she　wore　to　keep　off　the　sun。
　　　〃Siuan；　it's　Myrelle。〃　Letting　the　ward　go；　she　rushed　outside。　〃Myrelle；〃　she　called。　Siuan　needed　a　victory　to　wash　the　taste　of　being　bullied　out　of　her　mouth；　and　this　might　be　just　the　thing。　Myrelle　was　one　of　Sheriam's　lot；　and　apparently　with　a　secret　all　her　own。
　　　Reining　in　her　sorrel　gelding；　Myrelle　looked　around；　and　gave　a　start　when　she　saw　Egwene。　By　her　expression；　the　Green　sister　had　not　realized　what　part　of　the　camp　she　was　passing　through。　A　thin　dustcloak　hung　down　the　back　of　her　pale　gray　riding　dress。　〃Mother；〃　she　said　hesitantly；　〃if　you　will　forgive　me；　I　…　〃
　　　〃I　will　not　forgive　you；〃　Egwene　cut　in；　making　her　flinch。　Any　doubt　vanished　that　Myrelle　had　heard　about　last　night　from　Sheriam。　〃I　will　talk　with　you。　Now。〃
　　　Siuan　had　e　outside　too；　but　instead　of　watching　the　sister　climb　uneasily　from　her　saddle；　she　stared　down　the　rows　of　tents　toward　a　stocky；　graying　man　with　a　battered　breastplate　strapped　over　his　buff…colored　coat；　leading　a　tall　bay　in　their　direction。　His　presence　was　a　surprise。　Lord　Bryne　usually　municated　with　the　Hall　by　messenger；　and　his　rare　visits　mostly　finished　before　Egwene　learned　he　had　e。　Siuan　assumed　such　a　look　of　Aes　Sedai　serenity　it　nearly　made　you　forget　her　youthful　face。
　　　Glancing　briefly　at　Siuan；　Bryne　made　a　leg；　handling　his　sword　with　a　spare　grace。　A　weathered　man；　he　was　only　moderately　tall；　but　the　way　he　carried　himself　made　him　seem　taller。　There　was　nothing　flashy　about　him；　the　sweat　on　his　broad　face　made　him　seem　to　be　about　a　job　of　work。　〃Mother；　may　I　speak　with　you？　Alone？〃
　　　Myrelle　turned　as　if　to　go；　and　Egwene　snapped；　〃You　stay　right　there！　Right　where　you　are！〃　Myrelle's　mouth　dropped　open。　Her　surprise　seemed　as　much　for　her　own　obedience　as　Egwene's　decisive　tone；　and　it　faded　into　bitter　resignation　that　she　quickly　hid　behind　a　cool　fa？ade。　One　belied　by　the　way　she　twiddled　her　reins。
　　　Bryne　did　not　even　blink；　though　Egwene　was　sure　he　at　least　had　an　inkling　of　her　situation。　She　suspected　that　very　little　surprised　him；　or　unsettled　him。　Just　the　sight　of　him　had　made　Siuan　ready　to　fight　back；　for　all　it　was　apparently　she　who　started　most　of　their　arguments。　Already　her　fists　rested　on　her　hips　and　her　gaze　was　fixed　on　him；　an　auguring　stare　that　should　have　made　anyone　uneasy　even　had　it　not　e　from　an　Aes　Sedai。　Myrelle　offered　more　than　helping　Siuan；　though。　Perhaps。　〃I　intended　to　ask　you　to　e　this　afternoon；　Lord　Bryne。　I　ask　now。〃　She　had　questions　to　put　to　him。　〃We　can　talk　then。　If　you　will　forgive　me。〃
　　　Instead　of　accepting　her　dismissal；　he　said；　〃Mother；　one　of　my　patrols　found　something　just　before　dawn；　something　I　think　you　should　see　for　yourself。　I　can　have　an　escort　ready　in　…　〃
　　　〃No　need　for　that；〃　she　broke　in　quickly。　〃Myrelle；　you　will　e　with　us。　Siuan；　would　you　ask　someone　to　bring　my　horse；　please？　Without　delay。〃
　　　Riding　out　with　Myrelle　would　be　better　than　confronting　her　here；　if　Siuan's　patched…together　clues　really　pointed　at　anything；　and　on　a　ride　she　could　ask　Bryne　her　questions；　but　neither　fueled　her　haste。　She　had　just　spotted　Lelaine　striding　toward　her　through　the　tent…rows；　Takima　at　her　side。　With　one　exception；　all　the　women　who　had　been　Sitters　before　Siuan　was　deposed　had　drifted　to　either　Lelaine　or　Romanda。　Most　of　the　newly　chosen　Sitters　went　their　own　way；　which　was　slightly　better　in　Egwene's　view。　Just　slightly。
　　　Even　at　a　little　distance　the　set　of　Lelaine's　shoulders　was　evident。　She　looked　ready　to　walk　through　whatever　got　in　her　way。　Siuan　saw　her　as　well　and　darted　off　without　pausing　for　so　much　as　a　curtsy；　yet　there　was　no　time　to　make　a　clean　escape　short　of　leaping　onto　Lord　Bryne's　horse。
　　　Lelaine　planted　herself　in　front　of　Egwene；　but　it　was　Bryne　she　fixed　with　eyes　sharp　as　tacks；　considering；　calculating　what　he　was　doing　there。　She　had　larger　fish　to　put　on　the　fire；　though。　〃I　must　speak　with　the　Amyrlin；〃　she　said　peremptorily；　pointing　toward　Myrelle。　〃You　will　wait；　I　will　talk　to　you　after。〃　Bryne　bowed；　not　too　deeply；　and　led　his　horse　where　she　pointed。　Men　who　had　any　brains　at　all　soon　learned　arguments　did　little　good　with　Aes　Sedai；　and　with　Sitters　the　tally　was　usually　none。
　　　Before　Lelaine　could　open　her　mouth；　Romanda　was　suddenly　there；　radiating　mand　so　strongly　that　at　first　Egwene　did　not　even　notice　Varilin　with　her；　and　the　slender；　red…haired　Sitter　for　the　Gray　was　inches　taller　than　most　men。　The　only　surprise　was　that　Romanda　had　not　appeared　sooner。　She　and　Lelaine　watched　one　another　like　hawks；　neither　allowing　the　other　near　Egwene　alone。　The　glow　of　saidar　surrounded　both　women　at　the　same　instant；　and　each　wove　a　ward　around　the　five　of　them　to　stop　eavesdropping。　Their　eyes　clashed；　challenging　in　faces　utterly　cool　and　collected；　but　neither　let　her　ward　drop。
　　　Egwene　bit　her　tongue。　In　a　public　place；　it　was　up　to　the　strongest　sister　present　to　decide　whether　a　conversation　should　be　warded；　and　protocol　said　the　Amyrlin　made　that　decision　wherever　she　was　present。　She　had　no　desire　for　the　not…quite　apologies　mentioning　it　would　bring；　though。　If　she　pressed；　they　would　accede；　of　course。　While　behaving　as　though　soothing　a　petulant　toddler。　She　bit　her　tongue；　and　boiled　inside。　Where　was　Siuan？　That　was　not　fair　…　getting　horses　saddled　required　more　than　moments　…　but　she　wanted　to　grip　her　skirts　to　keep　her　hands　away　from　her　head。
　　　Romanda　dropped　the　staring　match　first；　though　not　in　defeat。　She　rounded　on　Egwene　so　suddenly　that　Lelaine　was　left　staring　past　her　and　looking　foolish。　〃Delana　is　making　trouble　again。〃　Her　high…pitched　voice　was　almost　sweet；　but　it　held　a　sharpness　that　emphasized　the　lack　of　any　title　of　respect。　Romanda's　hair　was　pletely　gray；　gathered　in　a　neat　bun　on　the　nape　of　her　neck；　but　age　had　certainly　not　softened　her。　Takima；　with　her　long　black　hair　and　aged　ivory　plexion；　had　been　almost　nine　yea